Obituaries

MAURICE BRIDGLAND (1961)

22 November 1944 – 21 November 2022

Son of Lionel Bridgland (Council 1954-83), brother of Chris (1960), Gerry (1965), and Andrew (1968).

CLIVE ENTICOTT (1958)

7 September 1940 – 12 December 2022

Brother of Ross (1963).

MICHAEL ROBERT DRAYTON INNES (1960)

23 January 1942 – 5 November 2022

ROGER JAMES GRAVES (1961)

9 September 1939 – 24 November 2022

QI-JIE (JOHN) OH (2003)

30 August 1985 – 24 October 2022

CHRISTINE RUTHERFORD

21 June 1930 – 4 January 2023

Headmaster’s Secretary to David Dyer from 1966 to 1979. In his Grammarian farewell, Mr Dyer said, ‘In this position, she made a remarkable contribution to the life of the School and one that was appreciated not only by me but also by other members of staff, parents, boys, and members of the School Council.’

Christine leaves a legacy of two sons, John Patrick Rutherford (1969) and Mark Rutherford (1972), two daughters-in-law, four grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren.

PHILIP HUTTON

26 November 1946 – 14 November 2022

For nearly 40 years, Phil made the long journey from his beloved Upwey to the school he loved and taught thousands of students at. He had previously worked at Fawkner High School but had been headhunted by David Dyer to come and work at Camberwell Grammar. While here, Phil taught Mathematics, Economics, Physical Education, Consumer Studies, Accounting, and Legal Studies. He was a House Tutor, Head of House, Head of Commerce, VCE Coordinator, and a valued member of the Staff Executive. When he joined the Executive as Senior Master – VCE Coordination, his outstanding qualities quickly burgeoned. Phil proved himself wonderfully adaptable. He maintained a commitment to the School’s concern for every student and that each one should be facilitated to perform at the highest level of which he was capable. That the VCE results during his time were as impressive as they were, was due in no small measure to his meticulous stewardship of the students in his care.

He was a legend among Accounting teachers. He was on the review committees for numerous Accounting Study Designs, was a VCE Accounting Assessor, and an active member of the Victorian Commercial Teachers Association. He also taught first-year University Accounting. He worked with the VCAA for 10 years preparing the Study Designs for Accounting in Years 11 and 12 and wrote Accounting textbooks for 30 years. He was made a Life Member of the VCTA in 2009 for services to Commerce teaching in Victoria. In the classroom, he set high standards and encouraged his students to work hard so that they would do better than they thought they could.

As in everything, in spite of his status in the profession, he maintained his humility. Every year he would ask Matthew Christopher which Accounting textbook he wanted to put on the booklist for the subsequent year and would always look relieved when Matt would reply, ‘Yours, of course, Phil.’

He participated in every aspect of life at the School that he could, especially in Athletics, Orienteering, and Cross Country – he was Master in Charge of Cross Country for 21 years. He loved that it didn’t matter how fast a student ran or how talented he was – every student had the capacity to run a personal best at each event. He would often run alongside the slower students in the training group, giving them encouragement and tips.

He often quoted his school football coach who encouraged his students with the mantra ‘If it is to be, it is up to me’. Phil adopted that attitude in all he did – if he wanted something done, he wouldn’t wait for someone else, he just got on and got it done. And so much at our school now is, because of him.

Phil would later reflect that teaching was his marathon. He spent 26 years preparing for it and took 42 years to complete it. In all of that time, his desire was to be of service, and to do what he could for his students and his colleagues: Phil was the consummate schoolmaster.

In Phil’s balance sheet of life, he represents an excellent return on investment. He was kind and loving, he loved his family and they him, he was an enthusiast and optimist with great belief and faith in people and, especially, in the students he taught. He invested fully in living, and I believe that the return on that investment was substantial, and in business terms that it met all ‘the comparable measures of success’. To Phil, success meant achieving what he set out to achieve. He didn’t just want to finish, he wanted to finish to the best of his ability.

Phil believed in and acted out the commitment to excellence and liberal education that characterises great schools such as Camberwell Grammar. He lives on in the memories of his students, his colleagues, and all who loved him.

Dr Paul Hicks Colin F Black OAM Headmaster Headmaster, 1987-2004

CHRISTOPHER (林子龙) TZU LOONG LAM (2006)

9 May 1988 - 28 July 2022

Christopher (林子龙) Tzu Loong Lam, class of 2006, fondly referred to by his classmates as ‘Chiz’ graduated from Camberwell Grammar and went on to live, although short, an action packed, high achieving, colourful life full of love, laughter and adventure.

After his time at Camberwell Grammar, he completed a Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering with Honours from RMIT University. He then began his career in the automotive industry, employed as an engineer at first Toyota for a number of years, then later its competitor, Ford. He eventually made the transition to Ventia, contractors for Defence, a Fire Safety Technical Officer. Then moving up the ladder to his dream job as a Project Engineer working for Defence. During these years he married the love of his life Erin, and they had two beautiful children, Marqus now four and Vivienne just 18 months.

Introduced to Cadets at Camberwell Grammar, this founded his lifelong involvement with the army. He enlisted with the Defence Force in 2006 where he worked hard with dedication and perseverance. His most recent accomplishment, being promoted posthumously to Sergeant as of August this year. Chris was deployed to a number of significant operations, including the Black Saturday Bushfires in 2009; to East Timor for Operation Astute, 2012 and the Black Summer Fires, Operation Bushfires Assist, 2020. For his service in the ADF he was awarded the Australian Service Medal, the Defence Long Service Medal, the Australian Defence Medal, the Australian Service Medal with clasp East Timor and the Timor Leste Solidarity Medal.

To those that knew him, he had such a large but still gentle presence, always loyal and ready to drop everything to give a lending hand. His beaming smile from ear to ear will be missed as well as his hugs from his family and friends. Conversations will be dull and quiet now without his cheeky, forever politically incorrect jokes, and his constant poking fun and banter with any that were happy to join in for a good laugh.

On 28 July 2022, Chris passed away after battling a severe bacterial infection. It was unexpected and sudden, the impact of his loss is still echoing through each day and will do so for the rest of our lives without him. He was meant to outlive us all. Chris leaves behind broken hearted parents, left with just memories of him growing up as their chubby little emperor; two brotherless sisters, their childhood playmate, TV couch buddy and ice-cream connoisseur forever gone; his Queen Erin, without her King; and his two children, Marqus and Vivienne, he leaves them a ridiculously unnecessary yet also impressive collection of nerf guns and every Xbox console series plus the special edition master chief controller; but he leaves them so young and longing for his cuddles, searching for his face in the crowd, still waiting for him to come home; and a gaping hole in everyone’s hearts that can never be filled. Chris was an important part of all of us and will be missed from our lives until the day we join him again.

Natasha Lam Sister

BRYAN JULIUS HORSKINS (1964)

25 October 1945 – 9 March 2023

Bryan’s long connection with Camberwell Grammar began when he was five years old and commenced kinder. Bryan developed a great rapport with many of his teachers, Ron Wootton and Ian Mason in particular, and made lifetime friendships with some of his classmates including Barry Church (1964), Peter Molloy (1964), Bruce Wilson (1964), Rick James (1965), and David Richmond (1965).

Sport, rather than scholastic goals, was Bryan’s passion at school. Bryan was selected as the 19th man for the Firsts Football team when he was only in Year 9, eventually going on to be Captain of the Firsts and the combined AGSV Football teams for two years. Bryan also played a few games in the Firsts Cricket team in Year 9 before becoming Captain of both the Firsts and the combined AGSV teams in his two final years. During Bryan’s years at Camberwell Grammar, javelin and discus were introduced as new Athletics events. Not surprisingly, Bryan went on to win the discus at both the School and combined levels four years in a row, setting records that still stand today. During his summers, Bryan spent most of his time at the Hawthorn Baths. It was here that Bryan honed new skills in breaststroke – winning this event for four years in a row at Swimming competitions, setting records that have lasted the test of time.

With his exceptional sporting achievements being awarded full colours in four sports (Football, Cricket, Swimming, and Athletics), Bryan became part of an extremely elite group when he was presented with the coveted Triple (Quad for Bryan) Colour Pocket. This is even more exceptional when we remember that his father Jules (1930), and son Sam (1991), bookended him as recipients of Triple Colour Pockets. It is likely to be some time before we witness representatives of three generations in one family who can match these achievements. In addition to this, Bryan was School Captain and Derham House Captain in his final year, proving himself to be a natural leader.

After school, Bryan went on to play Football for Hawthorn in the VFL and was Coach and President of the Old Camberwell Grammarians’ Amatuer Football Club (OCGAFC). Bryan was a giant of the OCGAFC and in his first year as President both the Seniors and Reserves won the premiership. Bryan’s influence was so great that he was one of only three people to be inducted as a Legend of the OCGAFC. He played Cricket for the Old Camberwell Grammarians’ Cricket Club, was a single handicap golfer, and, in his spare time, also played Basketball for Old Camberwell.

Not only was Bryan a naturally talented all-rounder, but he was a larger-than-life character whose influence and personality were infectious to all those that met him. He was incredibly determined, friendly, loyal, and an inspiring leader of people. Camberwell Grammar and the Old Camberwell Grammarians’ Association have lost a great friend and mentor to many, but Bryan’s legacy will carry on through his beautiful wife, Jude, and his extended family. Bryan truly loved Camberwell Grammar and the endless opportunities it provided him, his father Jules, his sons Tim (1989) and Sam, and now Ben (Year 10) as a fourth generation Horskins.

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